Fat Transfer: Q&A
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Facial Fat Graft Feels Hard Post-procedure
I had an analogous fat transfer to the upper cheeks and orbital region. The fat feels hard like a rock underneath the skin. Is this normal? Should I massage it? I can also feel uneven areas on the outmost region of the cheeks. Does hardness indicate that the fat cells died in the process? What should I expect from here?
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21 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
NoPlasticFlower
in New York
+1
Hardness after fat grafting not uncommon
Some degree of short-term firmness and swelling is common after fat grafting and by itself should not be cause for alarm. Obviously you speak with your doctor for reassurance.
+6
Firmness After Fat Grafting
Firmness in grafted fat tissue can occur on occasion postoperatively, but fat that feels “hard as a rock” is distinctly unusual. In most cases, facial areas that have received autologous fat grafts should feel soft and supple, although there may be some mild to moderate ‘firmness’ for the first week or two as the relatively modest postoperative edema (swelling) subsides. Also, the feeling of firmness may vary with the amount of fat grafted into a given area. 2-3cc of...
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+6
Palpable fat grafts after surgery
Early after surgery, almost every graft becomes firm to some extent. This is due to the healing around the graft and the metabolism away of, or encapsulation of, dead tissue.
With fat injection, many of the cells die before they are even injected. I believe this is inherent in the fat injection process where living cells are harvested under a vacuum and then injected. Our histoloogy studies have also confirmed this.
So in the first several months after surgery, this is normal.
If at six...
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+5
Depends on the timing
FAT GRAFTING aka LIPOINJECTION aka AUTOLOGOUS FAT INJECTION
The massage should be guided by your surgeon as opionions vary.
You did not specify the timing of your procedure as this can be important in the evolution of the post operative findings.
Firmness as Dr. Law documented can vary as a result of :
area injected i.e. cheek bone/ tear trough fat will feel firmer than cheek hollows
volume injected
amount of associated bleeding bruising
degree of "fat take" survival
Firmness is...
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+4
Hardness/ Firmness after Fat Transfer to Face is not common
With regards to FAT TRANSFER to face these are important points to consider;
Some degree of hard or lumpy region within the area of transplanted fat can happen after procedure.
It is important to be evaluated by your surgeon. He should guide you as to the degree, intensity and frequency of massaging.
Unless there is granuloma or infection the hardness should resolve shortly.
Hope this helped.
Dr. Sajjadian
+4
Hard/lumpy areas after facial fat transfer
It is entirely normal - and expected - to feel firm/hard/lumpy areas for the first few months after fat transfer to the face. These islands of swollen tissue will soften with time.
Visible lumps, on the other hand, are more tricky. Your surgeon's judgment will help decide how they should be managed: massage, steroid injection, or other treatments.
Facial fat transfer, artfully done, is a problem that creates happy patients and good results. Try to weather the uncertainty of...
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+3
Facial Fat Graft Feels Hard Post-procedure
After autologous fat graft to the face is not unusual to experience some harness of the area. This can be secondarily to scar tissue. However, you should be evaluated by your surgeon because fat necrosis initially will present as a hard area
+3
Results after fat grafting to face
Fat grafting to face is a very effective and powerful procedure. This is performed through very small needles and by adding a drop of fat at a time. When we transplanted fat from one area of the body to the other we can expect approximately 20% of this fat melt away. It sounds as if you are in the middle of the healing process. You should expect the fat to become progressively more soft until you reach your final result at about 6 to 8 months. At that time, if you continue to have areas...
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+3
Fat graft take
Fat grafting is a nice way to provide autologous tissue augmentation. Hardness can mean alot of diffirent things at different times. If it si early post-op, it may mean nothing. If it is longer than say the first few weeks, it may represent scar tissue or grafts that have not taken well and are undergoing fat necrosis and resorption.
+3
Fat grafted takes on the qualities of nearest tissue
Fat grafting is an excellent way to bring youth to your face. Losing volume plays a huge part in the aging process. Hence, replacing this fat to the face can reverse a lot of the aging that has occurred within the face.
One rule in fat grafting is that fat will take on the characteristics of the tissue that it is placed near or on. Hence the fat that is placed on your cheek bone will feel like bone, etc. During the post procedure phase, however, the fat will feel hard due to the...
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